Maui fires caused countless dollars in damage. Now, Hawaii lawmakers grapple with the bill

The good news: Hawaii’s House and Senate leaders hammered out an agreement on the draft of the state budget bill costing $19.2 billion for the fiscal year 2024-2025 this week. But lawmakers are racing against the clock to pass crucial legislation including the ongoing costs of Maui’s wildfire response and how to best tackle AI-generated political ads by next Friday, May 3

Nearly 300 bills remain in conference committees, with less than half receiving hearings. These committees, comprising members from both the House and Senate, are tasked with reconciling differences on bills that passed both chambers but with varying amendments.

But which bills are among the most pressing, and what could they mean for Hawaii’s future?

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Hawaii’s state budget is a top priority

The Aloha State legislators appear to have reached a tentative agreement that adjusts the previously approved budget for fiscal year 2023 to cover new expenses, such as disaster recovery costs related to the Maui wildfires last August which resulted in 101 deaths and nearly $6 billion in damages. The budget doesn’t include the initially suggested $1 billion for Maui wildfire expenses. Instead, those funds will be handled separately through other bills.

The appropriations draft does take into consideration wildfire-related expenses and funds essential services and public education for the state. Notable allocations include $6 million for small and remote schools, $2.5 million for workforce readiness programs, and $1.7 million for surveys on social-emotional well-being in schools. Funds are also set aside for teacher training in computer science, trauma-informed care, and various educational programs.

House and Senate leaders highlighted specific agency additions, including funds for insurance and software licenses, meat inspections, and a state rental housing fund. Additionally, significant investments are planned for geothermal energy exploration, rural medical air transport projects, and mapping and assessing wildfire vulnerabilities.

Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, who led the Senate’s conference negotiations, said, “The budget bill that we passed today balances the ongoing needs of Maui while also preparing our State for future disasters and working to diversify our economy and workforce to keep our keiki in Hawaii.”

Leading the negotiations for the House, Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita recommitted his efforts to ensure disaster relief and social services remain the top priority for the budget. “As we commenced this legislative session, our immediate focus remained to address the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, prioritizing safety and rehabilitation of our communities while ensuring core services for our state were not neglected.”

Aside from operational costs, the budget also allocates $4.5 billion for capital improvement projects, with $1.5 billion to be financed through bonds. These projects involve developing infrastructure at airports, highways, harbors, and other state facilities.

More: What is the shaka? Hawaii lawmakers want to officially claim ‘hang loose’ hand gesture

Campaign & government ethics

Regarding good governance, a pending ethics bill would require legislators to disclose clients who provided over $5,000 in income to the member, their partner, or their employer in the previous year. Additionally, there are bills aiming to limit executive emergency powers and protect public officials’ personal information.

Governor of Hawaii Josh Green speaks during a press conference about the destruction of historic Lahaina and the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Wailuku, Hawaii on August 10, 2023.

Hawaii’s cost of living crisis

Efforts to tackle Hawaii’s rising cost of living have hit significant roadblocks. Initiatives to address the housing crisis, including raising loan limits for direct loans from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, granting more zoning powers to counties, and permitting residential use in commercial zones, are presently stalled in conference.

Similarly, initiatives intended to alleviate housing shortages on Maui, including a pilot program to accommodate school employees and the establishment of an Interagency Council for Maui Housing Recovery, have made minimal progress.

Of particular concern is a crucial aspect of the governor’s agenda: the proposal to adjust income tax brackets and standard deduction amounts to reflect the rising cost of living and counter the impact of inflation. This proposal has yet to receive a conference hearing.

“As with any budget, difficult decisions must be made, but we are confident that the strategic forward-thinking collaboration between the Legislature and administration … is proactive in developing a diversified economy and programs to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents,” said Dela Cruz.

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maui fires caused countless dollars in damage. Now, Hawaii lawmakers grapple with the bill